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Regulation of ovulation by human pheromones

Author

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  • Kathleen Stern

    (The University of Chicago, 5730 Woodlawn Ave)

  • Martha K. McClintock

    (The University of Chicago, 5730 Woodlawn Ave)

Abstract

Pheromones are airborne chemical signals that are released by an individual into the environment and which affect the physiology or behaviour of other members of the same species1. The idea that humans produce pheromones has excited the imagination of scientists and the public, leading to widespread claims for their existence, which, however, has remained unproven. Here we investigate whether humans produce compounds that regulate a specific neuroendocrine mechanism in other people without being consciously detected as odours (thereby fulfilling the classic definition of a pheromone). We found that odourless compounds from the armpits of women in the late follicular phase of their menstrual cycles accelerated the preovulatory surge of luteinizing hormone of recipient women and shortened their menstrual cycles. Axillary (underarm) compounds from the same donors which were collected later in the menstrual cycle (at ovulation) had the opposite effect: they delayed the luteinizing-hormone surge of the recipients and lengthened their menstrual cycles. By showing in a fully controlled experiment that the timing of ovulation can be manipulated, this study provides definitive evidence of human pheromones.

Suggested Citation

  • Kathleen Stern & Martha K. McClintock, 1998. "Regulation of ovulation by human pheromones," Nature, Nature, vol. 392(6672), pages 177-179, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:392:y:1998:i:6672:d:10.1038_32408
    DOI: 10.1038/32408
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Guillaume Fréchette, 2012. "Session-effects in the laboratory," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 15(3), pages 485-498, September.
    2. Andreas C. Drichoutis & Varvara Kechagia, 2016. "The effect of olfactory sensory cues on economic decision making," Working Papers 2016-4, Agricultural University of Athens, Department Of Agricultural Economics.
    3. Thomas Buser, 2011. "Hormones and Social Preferences," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 11-046/3, Tinbergen Institute.
    4. Thomas Buser, 2009. "The Impact of Female Sex Hormones on Competitiveness," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 09-082/3, Tinbergen Institute.
    5. Kechagia, Varvara & Drichoutis, Andreas C., 2017. "The effect of olfactory sensory cues on willingness to pay and choice under risk," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 33-46.
    6. Ines Fürtbauer & Roger Mundry & Michael Heistermann & Oliver Schülke & Julia Ostner, 2011. "You Mate, I Mate: Macaque Females Synchronize Sex not Cycles," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(10), pages 1-6, October.
    7. Fokou Kenfack, W. & Siewe Siewe, M. & Kofane, T.C., 2016. "Nonlinear dynamics and synchronization of saline oscillator’s model," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 72-82.
    8. Buser, Thomas, 2012. "Digit ratios, the menstrual cycle and social preferences," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 76(2), pages 457-470.
    9. Einstein, Gillian & Shildrick, Margrit, 2009. "The postconventional body: Retheorising women's health," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(2), pages 293-300, July.
    10. Buser, Thomas, 2012. "The impact of the menstrual cycle and hormonal contraceptives on competitiveness," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 83(1), pages 1-10.

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